Praia da Marinha

Located between Armação de Pêra and Carvoeiro, Praia da Marinha (Beach of the Navy) is a small cove beach that nestles snugly at the base of rocky outcrops.

Beautiful beach of Praia da Marinha between Carvoeiro and Armação de Pêra. Photo by Klugschnacker

It is one of the most beautiful and emblematic beaches of Portugal. In 1998 it was awarded the distinguished “Golden Beach” award by the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment because of its outstanding natural qualities. It was nominated 1 of the 10 best beaches in Europe by the Michelin Guide, and won a top spot in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2014. Furthermore, pictures of the beach have often been used in promotional material and “Guides to Portugal” distributed around the world.

This beach is not only famous for its cliffs but also for the pristine quality of the water. Praia da Marinha has often been used by advertising agencies and by television producers in advertising campaigns. The water quality and clarity here is exceptional, making Praia da Marinha ideal for snorkelling. When you get tired of the beach, head out to sea in a boat trip to explore the nearby caves.

Praia da Marinha is about half an hour’s drive from Albufeira in the Lagoa area – the nearest big town on the map is Portimao. The beach is well signposted and when you arrive there’s plenty of free parking. Map coordinates: 37°05’25”N 8°24’38”W